Burning Roses

A few weeks before our wedding, Rodney Luther's stepmother, Jessica Flaine, posts a photo on her social media. In the photo, she's wearing the wedding dress I picked out, holding a bouquet of red roses, and shyly leaning toward Rodney, asking for a kiss. The caption reads—"Dreams fulfilled." I don't call Rodney in tears or throw a fit like I used to. I simply like the post and leave a comment. "Screenshot sent to Rodney's father." Not long after, Jessica deletes the post, and Rodney's phone call follows immediately. "Ivana, you're being so petty! The rest of my days belong to you. It's only today that I'm fulfilling a small dream of Jessica's. Hurry up and explain things to my dad! "Come on, be good. I've got a gift for you." A scoff escapes me. "Rodney, do you hear me clearly? Go explain it to your father yourself!"

It's the tenth anniversary of my bonding with my warrior mate, Owen Chase, and also our son Leo's birthday. A month earlier, I spent $8000 arranging a trip to the Blood Moon Forest. I plan to take my mate and pup to the Moon Goddess' sacred grounds to receive her blessings. This is supposed to be a happy anniversary celebration for our complete werewolf family. I've prepared everything and booked tickets for the Twilight Coach. But on the night before our departure, Owen and Leo suddenly block our mind-link. "Dad and I are having dinner with Ms. Emma on the 24th floor of Moonlight Restaurant. We've cancelled the tickets—we're not going." The call ends there. They promptly block my number as well. I rush back to our pack overnight, only to find that the security system no longer recognizes me. That night, every household locks its doors and activates protective barriers against the toxic mist of the Silver Mines in the nearby Moonveil Valley, while I could only huddle on the stone steps outside our house, inhaling the silver-laden fog all night. The poisonous substances flood my systems. I am sent to the hospital, burning with fever as my wolf grows weaker with every labored breath. Meanwhile, my family is busy touring Central City with Emma Skinner, spending the money I had worked so hard to earn. Owen posts a photo on his social media. In the photo, Emma, my mate Owen, and my child Leo stand hand-in-hand in front of the wishing fountain in Central City, all smiling brightly. The caption reads: "A perfect trip, a perfect family of three." It is only then that I finally understand—this family exists in name only. It's time for me to rebuild my life.

I was with Ivan Knowles for seven years. Despite the rumors that always swirled around him, he never gave me a reason to doubt his loyalty. He let me check his phone and even welcomed me to join him on business trips. I never found anything suspicious until our engagement day. The host had just shared how Ivan flew in my favorite white roses from abroad when the big screen, meant to play a video celebrating our seven years together, instead showed a hospital room. The cry of a newborn rang out. Ivan sat on the bed holding the baby. His secretary, Alba Lawson, leaned on his shoulder, wearing the same diamond ring as mine. Tearfully, she explained to me that it was a misunderstanding. "Alba is a single mom," Ivan excused. "I'm just helping her out as her boss. Don't make a big deal out of this." The room went quiet, everyone waiting for me to flip out. I didn't. Instead, I calmly slipped off my ring and handed it to him. "Of course not. I just wish you happiness."

His nose was an inch away from mine. Eyes looked down it with burning intensity. “You are mine, Adelia. And there is nothing in the world that can change that.” He growled, tracing the side of my face with a feather-light touch. I recoiled and swatted his hand away. Wanted to move backward. Out of his proximity but a strong hand settled on my lower back. Pulled me into him. Our eyes met again, letting all of my venom show in them. “You are married, Michael. Married and human! Us being mates doesn't take away from that fact.” I hissed. His blue eyes darkened. Hand flexed on my back. “Then turn me. Make me a wolf and I will be by your side until the world burns.” “Married. That is another obstacle. I won't be a home-wrecker. Never again.” I tried to move away from him. Away from the lurking promise of death and destruction if I gave in to him. Remained in his presence. But his hand twined with my dress. Forced me to stay so deathly close to him. I felt my resolve melt away. “She will understand. How can't she? We were destined to be together by the goddess herself.” He whispered and brushed his lips against my cheek. A shudder ran down my spine. “A goddess that you don't believe in.” Michael pulled away. Smiled cruelly down at me. “The only goddess I believe in is the one right in front of me.” I didn't stop him when his lips crashed into mine. Or when his tongue drifted over my bottom lip. Opened up for him so that he could explore the inside of my mouth. Devoured me whole. Morals be damned, then.

From riches to rags. From perfect to flawed. Avianna has lived the best life everyone dreams of. Her life was perfectly filled with joy and happiness. She had everything and anything she wanted. And finally is married to the love of her life. But everything changed in a blink of an eye. Smiles curved into sadness. Happiness into tears. She lost everything, maybe even a bit of herself. No more riches, the man she loved dearly being a reason for the loss of their unborn child. And the reason why she can never have a child again. After losing everything to him she finally decides it's enough and divorces him. She finds herself drinking in a night club trying forget about everything that happened to her. Under the influence she ends up sleeping with a man she doesn't even know. ***Excerpt*** "What's your name?" he whispers his hot breath burning my ears. His beard tickling my skin. Hearing his voice for the first time I think I melted. Processing the deep, fruity voice in my mind. It took me just as long to answer his question. Scared that I might have already forgotten my own name. It felt hard to find words for it. "Avi-Avianna," my voice faint and brittle. " Beautiful name for a beautiful queen, " he whispers again. Did he just call me a queen? Beautiful queen? I couldn't control the smile that spreads on my face. " What's yours? " I ask. Even though knowing it didn't matter. I didn't care who he was but only what he was about to do to me.

Sometimes, Love can be found in the strangest places, like on a hospital sick bed, or in between crossfire, it can be found in a haunted castle, war camps, even in a deserted island, or in this case… Under the shackles of a Mafia Family; As long as there are two or more people who open their hearts to receive it. It doesn’t always have to be rave and roses; this isn’t your usual love story!! This isn’t about a high school boy who ends up with his crush, it isn’t about the Billionaire CEO who ends up with the girl from the one night stand, and this is definitely not about a Prince and his Cinderella, not even close to Beauty and her Beast. This is love amidst thorns, guns and shackles, this is bloodshed, this is violence, and this is war!! A cold hearted Mafia Boss and his hot headed psycho captive. They say like poles repel, but what if that stipulation was wrong? A fearless female reporter is determined to expose the criminal activities of one of the most dominant Mafia families in Italy, even at the cost of her own life. Things get even more complicated when a super cop determined to put an end to the Mafia family gets involved in their bittersweet love story, creating a love triangle that lead to deaths and regrets, tears and tragedy, wins and losses… a battle for Supremacy, Power and Dominance!! Find out!!

Two mafia families. One bloody feud. And a love that was never supposed to exist. Valenti Moretti is known as Ghost—a shadow in the underworld, a man feared for his precision and ruthlessness. But beneath the cold exterior lies a burning obsession he can't escape: Lorenzo De Luca, the golden prince of their rival family. Lorenzo's every smile, every calculated move with his perfect fiancée, is a reminder of what Ghost can never have—or forget. Their story began years ago, with a kiss neither of them were supposed to remember. Now, Ghost has a plan to make Lorenzo face the truth they both buried: a staged kidnapping, a forced reunion, and a chance to rewrite their fate. But Ghost goes a step further, paying the kidnappers to make them sleep together. But love born in the dark doesn’t thrive without consequences. As secrets unravel and both families spiral into chaos, Ghost and Lorenzo find themselves drawn together by the very forces tearing them apart. Loyalties will shatter. Blood will spill. And when the truth about their past comes to light, they’ll have to decide whether their connection is worth destroying everything—or if it was doomed from the start. In this deadly game of power, hate, and obsession, how far will you go to claim the one thing you can’t have?

"Do you think I would hurt you? You were hand-selected for me by the Goddess." "I don't know what to think. I have waited the last two years to be claimed by you. I arrive here and I have been essentially ignored!" He stepped into me, his luminous golden eyes razing me with the stoked flames burning in their depth. "Madison, I want to love you. I have never wanted anything more than to love you!" His words were a fervent plea as he snatched my hand. "No, you wanted a Bride. A walking womb. Nothing more, nothing less." Ice settled in my chest. I could never love a monster that only wanted me for my ovaries. "So here I am, Husband. A ripe field to plow." He staggered back, my words cutting him as sharply as any knife. He turned his wounded gaze on me, but I steeled myself. I would not allow myself to believe this could ever be anything more than a business arrangement. I was a means to an end for the Weres. The continuation of their race. A broodmare. Madison Timms had known she would be a Moon-Bride since the year she turned sixteen. Now she has finally been claimed by her Alpha husband. When Alpha Xander Cross meets his goddess-blessed mate, he only wants to love her. Regardless of her humanity. Will his love thaw her icy heart? Or will they be torn apart by the world they are trying to rebuild?

As I met his burning gaze, he inched closer, racing my hearts with his words, “You can't deny our love forever. Soon, you are going to admit what you feel for me!” “I don't feel anything for you!” I snapped angrily, glaring hard at him. “Oh, really?” A devilish smirk curled his lips, sending shivers down my spine as he spoke playfully, “Then why were you begging me to f*ck you last night, my love?” … Born under the dark shadows of a prophecy, Azlynn’s life took a painful turn when she found her boyfriend, Xavion, making out with a hot girl at her birthday party. Devastated by his betrayal, she broke up with him, vowing never to look back. The football star, Alpha Xavion was hit by the reality that his true love was gone, realizing his mistake only after break-up. But it was too late! He couldn’t find Azlynn anywhere ... Five years later, their paths crossed again as a football celebrity and the owner of an emerging sport’s agency, reigniting their feelings. But how would Azlynn deal with Xavion, who was hell-bent on winning her back? Would she give him a chance? Or find love in the embrace of her fated mate?

"Stop it Tanya, you're too clingy!" Frank Harper shouted on her. Tanya Lewiston stood in tears looking at the man she loved for more than 10 years, cheat on her with her stepsister, three days to their marriage. Tired, hurt and betrayed, she left the hotel only to get drunk and sleep with a stranger who later turn out to be the CEO of Immortal Firm Kenneth Griffin. She had to marry him if she was to save her reputation in the society since the news got out. He has to marry her if he's to remain the CEO. Marriage bound by Contract, who'll have expected that they attended thesame high school and shared love before. As Tanya and Kenneth remained married under contract, Kenneth's elder brother expressed his love to her, and she did not expect that she would be pursued by the two brothers at the same time. To add fire to the already burning Inferno, her stepsister who snatched her husband is out to bring her down at any means. Will their relationship end well after the two-year contract or something unimaginable?